An Irishman Abroad

It should have been a golden moment that both sides could unify on. The confirmation hearings for America’s first ever black female Supreme Court judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Instead Ted Cruz et al turned it into the worst kind of juvenile political pantomime. Marion McKeone tries to answer the question, “Why are these hearings necessary?” In the second half of the episode she gets into the latest developments in Ukraine and why she feels President Biden isn’t doing nearly enough to help those fleeing the violence and those stranded on the ground. Finally we look at the grotesque way in which Presidential hopeful Ron Desantis has identified and leaped on what he sees as a winning political football. A power cut in St Albans cut the line between Marion and Jarlath but we still manage to get her recommendation for “What’s good this week?"   To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 600 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a p

Just in the door from her trip to Belgrade for the world indoor athletics championships, Sonia roots through the mailbag for the best questions submitted by our listeners. She gives us her review of the championships, a top quality tip of the week, a trip around the parishes and a tremendous insight on questions ranging from nutrition to planning. Jarlath asks about the biggest mistakes she has witnessed in her time racing the Cobh course and what her number 1 cheat/treat food is. From Chicago to Abu Dhabi the listeners come up trumps this week with great questions that the GOAT knocks out of the park.    For more information on/to purchase the Irishman Running Abroad Singlet, click here: https://www.rwsports.ie/category/irishman-abroad-running-with-sonia-shop   Join our running club is easy on strava.com/clubs/irishmanrunningabroad. Hear about up-coming events, post your runs and maybe get a shoutout from Sonia.   To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 600 Irish

Mick Clohisey is a multiple Irish national champion over various distances, a 3 time national cross country champion and winner of every type of road race there is to offer including 10km and half marathon. For most people that would be enough, not Mick Clohisey. He is also a 2 time national marathon champion winning Dublin in 2018 and Belfast in 2021. Today Jarlath sits down to talk to Mick about his life, journey and amongst other things, his marathon PB of 2 hours 13 minutes from Dublin 2019.    Not only has this man represented Ireland at major cross country championships 14 times, he also flew the flag for Ireland in the marathon at Rio Olympics 2016, the world championships 2017 and European championships in 2018. Mick opens up to Jarlath about the incredible highs and lows of competing at this level and how he navigates returning from injury for Sonia’s big race on April 3rd. Don’t miss a minute of this chat by joining Irishman Abroad Premium on Patreon.   To hear every episode in full and to gain acce

Could President Biden's radical military funding decisions and hostile language be enough to spark full scale war? Why are Kamala Harris’ staff dropping like flies? Is the new surge in COVID cases going unnoticed and who will be Donald’s wingman for the 2024 run? Some say he wants his daughter to start in this season of the reality TV show. Marion McKeone makes sense of it all this week and every week on Irishman In America.   To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 600 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad   Supplementary research provided by John Meagher.   If you would like a story discussed, get in touch, the Irishman Abroad Liveline is now open. You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 0044 7543 122 330. Why not pose a running question to Irish Olympic Legend Sonia O'Sullivan or ask our America Correspond

Why would anyone want to run up a hill? The greatest athlete of all time, Sonia O’Sullivan, explains why this counter intuitive activity is the most crucial form of strength training for all runners. This episode also features breathless voice notes from Jarlath and Sonia’s run around Richmond Park an hour before they sat down to record. Gradual vs severe inclines, improved cadence, better form, greater speed - a little bit of hill running goes a long way especially when you’re preparing for Sonia’s 10 mile road race on April 3rd in Cobh. In the extended cut with episode notes, Sonia gives us free sessions to include in your running week, a story about a time when the Met police were called after a complaint about her running and a word of warning to Jarlath and anyone being asked to do “mad fitness challenges”. We have two embarrassing running stories of the week. The first comes from listener, Aaron Mullan and his attempt to run the Da Nang Marathon in 2017. The second comes from an elite Irish athlete you

Any Girl is a ferociously honest, intensely tender and utterly unforgettable book that is as thought-provoking as it is timely. It is written by our guest today Mia Döring. Mia was exploited by an older man while in her teens. She explains to Jarlath how this exploitation carved her path into the sex trade. In her incredibly moving memoir we hear how she eventually left the trade and what life was like while within it. As you can imagine, this episode covers some adult themes of abuse, sex and trauma.   Mia and Jarlath discuss a wide range of topics including the startling statistic that 1 in 15 Irish men pay for sexual access. Mia Döring asks, “Why are we not talking about the men? Why are they not talking? We do not hear from them. They don’t ‘come out’. They don’t create associations or campaigns for punter’s rights. If punting is the legitimate and harmless hobby they claim it to be, why not?” If punting is the legitimate and harmless hobby they claim it to be, why not?”   Any Girl: A Memoir of Sexual Exp

Marion McKeone helps us navigate the mixed messaging and confusion over the catastrophe that is unfolding in Ukraine. Is an invasion of Poland a legitimate possibility or has the invasion stalled? The world watches through its fingers but is the time coming for the west to front up to Putin over his war crimes? We also get a round up of the latest domestic US news including Florida’s “don’t say gay” bill. What does it mean in everyday terms and is it just a political football for the Presidential ambitions of Ron Desantis? We get Marion’s take on what will happen with the two other long-awaited trials. And finally Jar and Marion offer their “what’s good” recommendation of the week.   To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 600 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad   Supplementary research provided by John Meagher.   If you would like a story discussed, get in touch

Sonia takes Jarlath to the fabled Bushy Park while she visits London with Jessica Hull to prepare for the world indoor championships. They return to her house in Teddington and take dive into the most important run of the week - The Long Run. Sonia’s Ten Mile Road Race takes place on the first weekend in April and today’s episode is part of a four part mini-series as they prepare to enjoy the event together. Jarlath explains how he managed to break 20 and Sonia points out a few key lessons that all of our listeners can take from the experience. How long is too long for your weekly big run? How should you fuel up for it? What shoes should we wear? Is a walking break a bad idea? We also take a trip around the parishes and get in much greater detail on Patreon.com/irishmanabroad.    For more information on/to purchase the Irishman Running Abroad Singlet, click here: https://www.rwsports.ie/category/irishman-abroad-running-with-sonia-shop   To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catal

Actor, writer, comedian, producer and proud son of Mayo Tom Davis joins Jarlath for a chat and a laugh about his connection to the west, latest work and journey. Davis spent years working in different jobs before plucking up the courage to give comedy a go. Now he devotes his entire life to creating his celebrated tv shows and helping others into the business. This one of a kind conversation covers a vast array of subjects Tom has rarely discussed including creating his character Mick for the new channel 4 series The Curse, his return to standup and lots more.   To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 600 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad   Supplementary research provided by John Meagher.   Our charity partner is jigsawonline.ie. In these tricky times, Jigsaw provides a range of resources, advice and care for your people to help them strengthen their mental health

As Republicans attending and speaking at CPAC struggled to know what to think about Ukraine until Donald Trump told them President Biden was carefully piecing together his first state of the Union address about how well things are going and the people watched as the lives were ripped apart forever. It’s been a bizarre, ominous and plain disastrous week for the world's most vulnerable caught up Russia’s grotesque invasion of this peaceful country. Jarlath and Marion discuss the historical reasons why it is taking place and how the media in the states might be obsessing over the wrong questions when it comes to this situation. We go to the live line for a question from a regular listener in Limerick and look ahead to what is coming this Sunday in the big interview.   To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 600 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad   Supplementary res

With the US and Irish indoor championships, cross country competitions and dozens half marathons taking place over the weekend, life has been pretty hectic for a lot of athletes this weekend. We get an update on the bizarre disqualification and reinstatement of world champion Donovan Brazier from Sonia O’Sullivan at Union Athletics Club. She knows the rollercoaster of emotions doesn’t end when you cross the finish line.  It’s one thing to train for a big race or running event, it’s quite another to survive the outcome. Whether you experience the disappointment of not hitting your target, the elation of reaching your goal or the nightmare of having a crisis mid-race, it is very difficult to cope with the aftermath. We get a masterclass from the greatest today on the podcast as Sonia examines Jarlath’s attempt to run 5km in under 20 minutes. Together they work through what exactly happened, whether anything could have been done differently in the lead up or if the chosen track was ideal for the challenge. There

Comedian, actor and writer Jack Carroll credits his Irish heritage for his ability to find humour in darkness. Thrust into the public eye at the tender age of 11 when he was spotted performing standup at a family function, his talent was made all the more astonishing when framed in the context of the challenges he had faced up to that point. The path to fame of child stars is littered with tragedy but Jack’s star has risen from the first moment he got in front of the Britain’s Got Talent cameras.   Jarlath chats to Jack about his journey, the impossible task of taking school seriously when you’ve been to the moon, the difficulty of writing in the current climate and much much more. For more on Jack including his up-coming tour dates follow @fatjacko on Twitter. Jar’s #Breaking20 challenge reached its climax on Saturday. Hear how it all went on Tuesday with Sonia O’Sullivan on Irishman Running Abroad. Tina is back on her feet and almost fully better. This Monday she brings the insight and laughs to another Hon

In a dark and confusing week for Europe and the world, Marion McKeone attempts to make some sense of what is happening in Ukraine. She asks what options remain and why US boots on the ground is simply not an option. With her bag packed for CPAC in Orlando Jarlath asks her if the absurdity of the event will take a darker turn given the invasion. Trump wasted no time in aligning himself with Putin by issuing some bizarre comments declaring  the “genius” of his strategy and  military operation. Is he speaking to his base or is this finally the line in the sand where the GOP and his royal orangeness will part ways. Finally Marion and Jarlath look at a new documentary series about the rise, fall and impact of Bill Cosby. There’s also news on the return of “Honey You’re Ruining Our Kid”, the new parenting podcast from Irishman Abroad podcasts.   To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 600 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a

Even the greats get anxious before the big days. Sonia and Jarlath are joined by marathon expert Trevor Cummins to discuss how you can conquer your pre-event jitters through taking a few simple steps. Trevor is a professional athletics, strength & conditioning coach based in Cobh who just this weekend posted a marathon PB of 2:37! Jarlath has had a rocky couple of weeks preparation for this #breaking20 challenge this Saturday. Between illness and scheduling the lead up has not been ideal. Sonia explains why “talking yourself out” of peek performance is a big danger in the final week. In the extended episode there’s our trip around the parishes, the mailbag, the embarrassing running story of the week and lots more. Why not become a supporter now and start enjoying the benefits.    To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 600 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad   

This week we delve into the Irishman Abroad Vault to bring you one of our most popular episodes from the series to date - the Ronan O'Gara episode.   As Jarlath explains in this episode, personal circumstances got in the way of a new guest appearing on the show this week but this interview certainly does not disappoint. With Six Nations fever well and truly underway, this is the perfect time to re-release this conversation with Ronan.   With the conversation surrounding Jonny Sexton and Joey Carberry heating up, hearing Ronan explain his own journey from hating Jonny Sexton to missing him deeply after his departure from Racing Metro is one that will no doubt give a new perspective on the current debate. Ronan tells the fascinating story of "that photo" of him apparently snubbing the Queen and how he denied himself the fairytale ending to his playing career.   To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 600 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for

Has Prince Andrew settled this case and avoided any further embarrassment or has he just agreed not to be humiliated at his mother’s big party? Today Marion McKeone casts her expert legal eye over the settlement nobody saw coming. Just weeks ago we heard how intent Virginia Giuffre was on making Andrew sweat in public on the stand. Surely there is more to this settlement than meets the eye. This tamped down statement can’t be worth £12 million. Is it the outcome other victims were hoping for?   Dumped on Valentines Day, in public, by your accountant. Now that is rough. Donald didn’t take it well and his rage spewed into a statement that he wanted written in CAPS. But before you flush it down the toilet of the White House residence, surely Mazars are culpable for some of the book-keeping tomfoolery they are attempting to call out? Marion explains it all and takes us to the Ukraine to examine the developments of the past week.   To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of ov

There’s no roadmap for coming back from a dose of COVID. Every case is different but are there any guidelines you should stick to? Sonia and Jar break down what the experts say and examine whether antibiotics can tinder peak performance. Sonia tells us about her trip to Spokane Washington for the Lilac Grand Prix and how the Nike Union Athletics Club smashed a world record on Friday night. We go around the parishes for a stop in Vancouver where an Irish running club took over in the local half marathon. And finally in the extended cut we get to hear the winners of our most embarrassing running story competition. Get even more on the subject of returning from COVID in our patron exclusive episode notes.   To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 600 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad    Join our running event on strava.com/clubs/irishmanrunningabroad and help raise v

Conor Buckley speaks to Jarlath about choosing a completely different path to the one pre-pandemic life had mapped out for him. His passion and commitment to leaving his mark on society by promoting equality and change comes as no surprise as the son of the Irish icon and ambassador for courage, Christine Buckley.   In March 2020 when the first lockdown hit Conor finally had time to think. This, combined with the birth of his son, forced him to make the decision to setup the Human Collective clothing brand and overhaul his life completely.  In this moving and inspiring conversation Conor tells the powerful story of how he took on this daunting task and the inspiration that he takes from his mother every single day.   To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 600 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad Supplementary research provided by John Meagher. Our charity par

If you’re on his mailing list, chances are Donald Trump has sent you 2000+ emails not just for your hard earned cash but informing you that you have been hand selected for his army and that it is now your duty to cough up. Marion explains exactly how this funding scam is worth to the tune of almost 200 million dollars post election and 50 million dollars in the last six months. We dip in the mail bag, take a look at the stand-off in Ukraine and what is happening with the Canadian blockade. Is it a small issue that has been hijacked by radicals and how is it possible to resolve it without violence?   To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 600 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad   Supplementary research provided by John Meagher.   If you would like a story discussed, get in touch, the Irishman Abroad Liveline is now open. You can now get in touch with us and feature

The number 1 running podcast in the world today (Irish Runner Magazine), Irishman Running Abroad, brings you a comprehensive experts guide to marathon training this week. Sonia and Jarlath enlist the help of the great Trevor Cummins two weeks out from his trip to the Seville marathon. Together they work through some of the most common misconceptions, questions and truths of preparing for the big one. As always there is even more craic and questions answered on our supporters page over at Patreon.com/irishmanabroad plus an illustrated set of notes. Jarlath was struck down by a bug this week. Sonia knows a thing or two about this too. She guides him and our listeners back from antibiotics and easing back into the work of #breaking20. We go round the parishes, get Sonia tip of the week and have a very big announcement about the much anticipated team singlet.   To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 600 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for ju